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New Beer and Service Industry Shirt Benefit
Lone Star Beer launched a new beer and initiative to help support the state’s service industry. Rio Jade is a new Mexican-style lager, made with malts from Texas malthouse Blacklands Malt. The can, drawing aesthetic inspiration from Texas’s waterways and landscapes, was designed by San Antonio artist Cruz Ortiz. The beers will be available in Texas starting in late April, with wider distribution planned for next month.
As for the service industry benefit, the beer company is selling a T-shirt with apparel business Texas Humor, where all profits will go towards nonprofit Southern Smoke. The organization, from Houston chef Chris Shepherd, will distribute raised funds to restaurants owners and workers in need. The shirt is $25, and will ship on Friday, May 8.
Letter to Grubhub
Vinaigrette owner Erin Wade wrote a public letter to Grubhub CEO Matt Maloney, calling out the third-party delivery company’s advertising purporting to support small businesses while charging 30 percent fees to restaurants. This is during a time when restaurants are relying on takeout and delivery services for much-needed income, since dining rooms have to stay closed.
“You charge restaurants that ‘partner’ with Grubhub more than they make per meal,” Wade wrote. “You are part of the reason why restaurants are so vulnerable to the shock from this pandemic.” Restaurants are “trapped in a destructive cycle you helped create.”
A class action lawsuit against Grubhub, DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Postmates was filed in New York last week, alleging that the companies violated antitrust laws by making restaurants charge diners the same prices for dine-in and delivery food, as well as its high commission fees.
Wade oversees the Austin location of the salad restaurant, as well as the original Albuquerque, New Mexico location. It is currently open for takeout and in-house delivery services.
Buying Texas Beer To-Go
Texas Craft Brewers Guild is encouraging people to buy to-go beers from local craft breweries that are currently still open for takeout services, since taprooms are currently closed. The Great Texas Beer Run is from Thursday, April 23 through Sunday, April 26
Snow’s BBQ During the Pandemic
Snow’s BBQ pitmaster Tootsie Tomanetz celebrated her 85th birthday yesterday. Ahead of the celebration, she talked to Texas Monthly about operating the barbecue restaurant during this novel coronavirus pandemic. The restaurant closed to dine-in and pickup service in mid-March, but it’s still shipping smoked meats.
H-E-B Opening Delayed
H-E-B pushed back the opening of its 8801 South Congress Avenue supermarket near West Slaughter Lane to the early summer. It’s pegged to contain a location of the chain’s in-house barbecue restaurant True Texas BBQ.
